Tension-wheel and method of producing same.



E. E. EINFELDT.

TENSION WHEEL AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME.

APPLICATION men JULY I2. 1916.

1,299,439. Patented Apr. 8, 1919 Snow Mo:

51:31 ILM (lite away ERNEST E. Em'FELDT, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA, .ASSIGNOR TO G. WATSON FRENCH, NATHANIEL FRENCH, JOSEPH L. HECHT, AND W. H. STACKHOUSE, ALL OF DAVENPORT, IOWA, COMPOS'ING THE, FIRM OF FRENCH & HECHT, OF DAVEN- ron'r, IOWA.

TENSION-WHEEL AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

Original application filed November 18, 1915, Serial No. 61,232. Divided and this application filed July 12,

1916. Serial No. 108,825.

To all whom it may concern: Be it knownthat I, ERNEST E. EINrELD'r,

Davenport, in the county of Scott and tate of Iowa, have invented certain new and use der a tension pull; and the invention con-.

sists in the method of placing and main taining the spokes under tension, and in the improved tension wheel produced by such method.

In the accompanyin drawings:

Figure 1 is a side e evation of a tension wheel embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the ends of the split rim and the cooperating expanding wedges by which the tension is applied to the spokes and maintained. 1 r

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the expanding wedges.

Referring to v the drawings:

In carrying my method into efiect I provide an all-metal wheel consisting of a hub l, a rim 2 and spokes 3. The spokes extend radially from the hub to the rim and have their ends firmly. fixed, as by heading or riveting or equivalent means, both to the hub and rim. The rim is split at one point between adjacent spokes so that the split ends may be spread apart to expand the rim; and to effect this action I provide a pair of expanding wedges 4 which are seated end to end between the split ends of the rim. The split ends of the rim slope inwardly toward each other from their outer edges toward the center, and the wedges are correspondingly sloped to cooperate therewith, a through bolt 5 being extended through the wedges and being provided on opposite ends with a head 6 and a nut 7 by a citizen of the United States, residin at means of which the wedges may beforcibly drawn toward each other. In such action of the wedges, the ends of the rim will be spread apart and the diameter of the same will be enlarged, thereby causing an outward pull to be exerted on the spokes and placing them under decided tension. The wedges will maintain the rim in expanded condition and consequently will maintain the spokes under tension. As a result, a

, wheel is produced in which the spokes will be under a tension pull, thereby greatly adding to the strength of the wheel and its capability of successfully withstanding the severe strains to which it is subjected in practice.

It will be manifest that the invention, either in respect to the improved tension wheel or the method of applying the tension to the spokes, is not dependenton the particular and special form of the expanding means shown, as wedges or means of other form may be employed for this purpose, provided that the split rim ,will be expanded and enlarged in diameter to produce the tension, and will thereafter bemaintained in its ex-. panded condition to maintain the tension.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown myimproved wheel furnished with a removable rubber tire within which the rim is expanded, but my invention is not limited In this connection and other forms of tires may be employed, or the tire entirely omitted.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The method of placing under uniform tension all the spokes of an all-metal wheel in which said spokes extend radially and are fixedly connected to the hub and rim, which method consists inexpanding the rim to enlarge the diameter thereof, thereby causing a tension pull to be exerted radially on all the spokes uniformly, and maintaining the rim in expanded condition to retain the spokes under tension. Y

2. The method of placing under uniform tension all the spokes of an all-metal splitrim wheel in which said spokes extend radially and are riveted fixedly to the hub and rim, which method consists in movingthe ends of the rim relatively to each other in opposite directions to expand the same and enlarge its diameter, thereby causing a tension pull to be exerted radially on all the spokes uniformly, and maintaining the rim in expanded condition to retain the spokes under tension. 10

In testimony whereof, I have afiixed my signature;

ERNEST E. EINFELDT. 

